***Official*** Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series

[Blaze]

I know it's already been mentioned, but Bond is bowling rubbish at the moment, and to be honest has been bowling poorly for the last year or so, with only cheap wickets during the slog overs propping his figures up. Off the top of my head, the last time he got a wicket in his opening spell was in the 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka. Before that, I think he only took one in an opening spell at the Champions Trophy as well. He's not swinging the ball, the only bouncers he's bowling are those slower bouncers - which he's overdoing as well -, he's bowling no yorkers at all, he's bowling far too many balls down leg side and he's bowling no good length balls either - it's all either short of a length or its a half volley. Looks to me like he's reverted to his 'old' action a bit as well, which could make him more injury prone.



EDIT: Oh, and I've got a feeling we're going to lose on Tuesday as well, which will piss me off greatly.

Yeah Bond is bowling really, really badly. Should retire after the world cup if he can't get it to swing anymore. He seems to have completly lost it.

With regards to tomorrow, if we lose at least we won't have to be beaten by Australia 2 more times in the finals.

ffs is there anything more depressing in sport (for a kiwi fan) than a NZ vs. Aus cricket match. What does that make it? 2 out of our last 22?

 

[Blaze]

Anyway, SP's sniping aside, I'd like to wave the white flag.

I just don't know what more we can do. There was very little wrong with NZ's performance last night, yet we were basically creamed. To be casually brushed aside, conceding the highest ever successful run chase on the MCG - with it's boundaries most of the way out - is just so frustrating I want to scream.

Call me childish, churlish, whatever you like, but it's just not fair. Our boys play more or less to the best of their ability, and it's not even close to enough. We're still waiting for a successor - just one lousy player mind - to be a star with the bat for us in the 13 years since Martin Crowe retired. The Australians have a top order full of them........ and then they have Ricky Ponting.

290 is supposed to be hard. Batsmen are supposed to take risks, put themselves under pressure, get caught in the deep chasing a huge total. Ponting looked like he was having a net out there. Sure, we almost chased down 340 the other day (although I'm getting mighty tired of the words almost and nearly), but that took the innings of Jacob Oram's life, and we still lost. Ricky Ponting barely raised a sweat last night.

I just don't know what more we can do. It's gotten to the point now where I don't care whether or not we make the tri-series final. Where's the attraction in making it if we can't beat Australia? What's the point in looking forward to the World Cup if we can't beat Australia? Even if, by some blessed miracle, someone else flukily knocks them out of the Cup and we win it, could we really call ourselves world champions?

Anyway, sincere apologies and all that for this whinge, just had to get that off my chest. I don't know if I've felt so abject after watching a game of cricket as I felt last night. 74 all out is fixable. What on earth can we do now?

*slinks off to corner to sob quietly to himself*

Yeah couldn't have said it better myself. Honestly what do we have to do? Playing Australia used to be exciting because every now and then we would get on top of them and win the odd game (say 1 in 5). But now...

 

[GIMH]

Anyone else reckon the Aussies didn't mind seeing England win at the SCG on FRiday ?

Seems to me the Aussies definitely prefer to face England ion the finals (hey, let's get some easy wins if we can)......the performance against the Poms was very unusually subdued compared to the intensity against NZL.....

Yes, Australia need to play the weaker team in the finals. Nice logic

 

[Fiery]

Yes, Australia need to play the weaker team in the finals. Nice logic

Can't see much wrong with his logic really

 

[vic_orthdox]

Besides tinkering with form before a WC is about as stupid as it gets.

However, if they're worried about losing the Finals series, which would be very annoying for the side because of the extra scrutiny, then maybe they would consider it. In addition, it gives Aus the chance to have an extra look at some of England's new players, while they've got the Chappell-Hadlee series afterwards to continue studying NZ.

 

[GIMH]

Can't see much wrong with his logic really

Besides tinkering with form before a WC is about as stupid as it gets.

However, if they're worried about losing the Finals series, which would be very annoying for the side because of the extra scrutiny, then maybe they would consider it. In addition, it gives Aus the chance to have an extra look at some of England's new players, while they've got the Chappell-Hadlee series afterwards to continue studying NZ.

I would have thought Australia were better than that tbh. It's not in your mentality to lose at anything, even if it's in your best interests, surely?

 

[vic_orthdox]

I would have thought Australia were better than that tbh. It's not in your mentality to lose at anything, even if it's in your best interests, surely?

There's no way it's happening. As I said in my first line, even if they were to consider it, flirting with form so close to the ODI showpiece event is suicide. Howevr, I also felt like playing some devil's advocate, hence the second paragraph.

 

[Steulen]

I would have thought Australia were better than that tbh. It's not in your mentality to lose at anything, even if it's in your best interests, surely?

They wouldn't have set out to lose, but may have given up the bonus point on purpose when it became clear they would lose anyway.

 

[Josh]

haha, spot the victorian

Call was probably harsh on anyone bar Andre Nel.

 

[GIMH]

There's no way it's happening. As I said in my first line, even if they were to consider it, flirting with form so close to the ODI showpiece event is suicide. Howevr, I also felt like playing some devil's advocate, hence the second paragraph.

I thought that was probably the case. I'm not bothered about people taking away from England's victory, because there's no doubt we wouldn't have beaten you if it was still live for Aus, but it's probably more insulting to Australia than England to suggest that they "threw" the match.

I do believe we'll beat NZ tomorrow though. Just got a feeling, think I've already explianed my extensively flawed logic and superstition earlier in the thread.

 

[James90]

The sooner hodge gets out and hussey gets in the better for australia.

 

[Gloucefan]

Yeah Bond is bowling really, really badly. Should retire after the world cup if he can't get it to swing anymore. He seems to have completly lost it.

With regards to tomorrow, if we lose at least we won't have to be beaten by Australia 2 more times in the finals.

ffs is there anything more depressing in sport (for a kiwi fan) than a NZ vs. Aus cricket match. What does that make it? 2 out of our last 22?

Retire? FFS he's had how many injuries? Bowlers go through stoops in form as do
batsmen. Rediculous. How did you come to the conclusion that "he seems to have lost it completetly"? as opposed to just being out of form as a result of the fact he he's been injured?

 

[Blaze]

Retire? FFS he's had how many injuries? Bowlers go through stoops in form as do
batsmen. Rediculous,

It's not really a form slump... He just seems to have had one too many injuries and can't get back to his old self.

Obviously if he starts swinging the ball again then all should be good.

 

[Fiery]

Retire? FFS he's had how many injuries? Bowlers go through stoops in form as do
batsmen. Rediculous. How did you come to the conclusion that "he seems to have lost it completetly"? as opposed to just being out of form as a result of the fact he he's been injured?

Not that rediculous (sic) really. He's nearly 32 and doesn't look that interested in cricket at the moment. Seems to have lost all confidence and aggression. His injuries, coupled with a pea-sized heart, could well see him retire sooner rather than later.


PS: Is ridiculous the most mis-spelt word in the English language? Don't want to sound like the spelling police (although that's impossible). It's up there with their/there/they're

 

[Gloucefan]

Not that rediculous (sic) really. He's nearly 32 and doesn't look that interested in cricket at the moment. Seems to have lost all confidence and aggression. His injuries, coupled with a pea-sized heart, could well see him retire sooner rather than later.


PS: Is ridiculous the most mis-spelt word in the English language? Don't want to sound like the spelling police (although that's impossible). It's up there with their/there/they're

Not a typo but I didn't even realise I'd spelt it that way to be honest, I wouldn't write it that way.

 

[Dick Rockett]

pea-sized heart

That's an unfair slur on the man, and one with no evidence to back it up. I suspect that it's mainly due to frustration that people are willing to make such comments.

Anyone can tell he loves playing and taking wickets. It makes no sense for him to be as precious as you make out.

 

[meatspx]

Kyle Mills pretty much screwed for the World Cup

Oh dear......looks like Franklin will be bowling in our starting 11XI!

Bond needs to come right and starting taking more wickets, or otherwise we might be in a bit of trouble.

 

[Fiery]

That's an unfair slur on the man, and one with no evidence to back it up. I suspect that it's mainly due to frustration that people are willing to make such comments.

Anyone can tell he loves playing and taking wickets. It makes no sense for him to be as precious as you make out.

Yeah, pea-sized heart was a harsh thing of me to say but I do question his mental-toughness

 

[_Ed_]

Kyle Mills pretty much screwed for the World Cup

Oh dear......looks like Franklin will be bowling in our starting 11XI!

Bond needs to come right and starting taking more wickets, or otherwise we might be in a bit of trouble.

Yeah that's really worrying news.

Franklin is a really improved bowler in ODIs but I'd still have Mills in the team ahead of him any day.

 

[wpdavid]

Meanwhile, in the England camp, Vaughan is expected to replace Loye & Collingwood is due to return too. Presumably for Bopara. Presumably Colly's regained his form in the nets since Friday?

Incidenally, what's happened to Jon Lewis? One minute he's taking wickets-a-plenty, then he has a slight back strain, and then he's no-where to be seen. All very odd.